Purchase Card Training - REMINDER

This is a reminder that applicants requesting a purchase card or requesting to be an approving official are required to complete the General Service Administration (GSA's) web-based purchase card training. GSA's Purchase Card Training "GSA SmartPay Purchase Card - Your Blue Print for Success" located at the following website address: http://apps.fss.gsa.gov/webtraining/trainingdocs/

smartpaytraining/index.cfm and the Section 508 training, which is located at the following website address: http://www.section508.gov/. Both online training modules generate a "Certificate of Completion". Please print out the certificates and attach to the applicable application and forward to Robin Carpenter, ITA's Program Coordinator for processing.   If you have questions, please contact Robin Carpenter at (202)482-4989 or via e-mail Robin_Carpenter@ita.doc.gov.

ITA Guidance

The ITA Policies, Guidance and Procedures website is a tool for ITA employees to use in their daily work. It provides valuable administrative, policy and procedural guidance in such areas as the preparation of correspondence, records management, and many other subjects.  The website is  useful to employees seeking information about such topics as transit benefits, travel and training.  You may access this website at http://www.ita.doc.gov/ooms/Guidance.htm.  If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Charles Jefferson via email at charles.jefferson@mail.doc.gov, or call (202)482-6078.

FY 2007 Appropriation Process

On Wednesday April 5th the Secretary of Commerce, Carlos M. Gutierrez, testified before the House of Representatives, Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Science, the Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, and Related Agencies. The subcommittee is chaired by Representative Frank R. Wolf of Virginia with assistance from Representative Alan B. Mollohan from West Virginia, the ranking Democratic member. This hearing was the first of nine steps leading up to the final passage of ITA's appropriation sometime before the beginning of the next fiscal year. Hearings are occasionally web cast. It is recommended that you monitor the subcommittee's web site http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutTheCommittee.Subcommittees&SubcommitteeId=5

TheCommittee.Subcommittees&SubcommitteeId=5 for information about web casts and late breaking schedule changes.  The Secretary will testify before the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies on May 3rd. The Senate's web site address is, http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/commjust/topics.cfm?code=commerce

topics.cfm?code=commerce

If you have any questions about the recent hearing or the budget process please call Jim Donahue at (202)482-0210.

Taxable Employer-Provided Parking

Employees who receive employer-provided parking spaces at the Herbert C. Hoover Building (HCHB), are in receipt of a non-cash fringe benefit, which must be reported on time and attendance (T&A) reports during each tax year.  Because the fair market value of this fringe benefit is taxable, it must be included in an employee's gross pay and reported to the Internal Revenue Service.  Reporting the benefit ensures that the employee's Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, accurately reflects the taxable fringe benefit.  There has been a change in reporting the value of employer-provided parking.  In accordance with Internal Revenue Bulletin 2005-47, the excludable amount of employer-provided parking increased from $200.00 to $205.00 per month.  This change is effective with tax year 2006.  The cost for employees parking in the HCHB courtyard or apron is $206.87 per month, less the $205.00 excludable amount or $1.87 per month ($22.44 per year).  The cost for employees parking in the HCHB garage is $233.41 per month, less the $205.00 excludable amount or $28.41 per month ($340.92 per year).  The benefits may be recorded biweekly, monthly, quarterly, semiannually, or annually and must be reported by the end of the tax year (pay period 24/06).  Employees are reminded by this notification that they are responsible for providing timekeepers with this information as soon as the parking space is provided.  Employees and timekeepers, who have any questions about this requirement, should contact either Lorese Green at (202)482-5232 or via email at Lorese_Green@ita.doc.gov or Carmen Montgomery at (202)482-3620 or via email at Carmen_Montgomery@ita.doc.gov.

Traveler’s Corner

Question:   What is a traveler’s liability for unauthorized or personal use of a rental automobile using government funds?

Answer:   A traveler is responsible for any additional cost resulting from the personal use of a commercial rental automobile for other than official travel-related purposes.  If you have questions, please call your travel contact or Sharon Russell at (202)482-3267.  

Where Do I Find....FY06 Budget Process

For those that like to follow the progress of the proposed ITA budget you may go to the Library of Congress site to track it. The link below is to the fiscal year 2006 budget progress on the Library of Congress site. Fiscal year 2007 progress has not been posted yet. http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app06.html. If you have any questions about the recent hearing or the budget process please call Jim Donahue at (202)482-0210.

ITA Comings and Goings 02/24/06 – 04/03/06

Arrivals – WELCOME!

OUS – Jeffrey Cavanaugh, Lois Mockabee, Jennifer Scroggins; ADMIN - Rita Steele; IA – Richard Priest;  MAC – Sean Reilly; TP & USFCS – Douglas Kirk, Michelene Shamatta.  

Departures

OUS – Victoria Park; ADMIN – Amy Duncan, Sarah Siddiqui; IA – Jonathan Freed, Tisha Loeper Viti, Andrew Smith; MAC – Michelle Carrillo, Amy Celico, Mary Beth Morgan; MAS – Beatrix Kozma, Elise Owen, Robert Woods; TP & USFCS – Horace Burton and Caroline Joiner.